How To Find A Real Estate Agent
 
How will you choose a real estate agent?  Ask a friend? Call your parents?  See who helped a co-worker?  And how do you know that you have made a good choice? 

These are just some of the questions that I get asked everyday in the real estate and mortgage business.  Choosing the right real estate professional for you is one of the most important financial decisions that you can make, yet many first time homebuyers give little thought to finding the best agent to suit their needs.

Owning your own home is part of the American Dream.  Choosing the right agent can make this a very easy transaction or a nightmare – you just need to do your homework.   Just because someone has a license does not mean that you want them representing you.  Here are a few questions to ask when you start the interview process… and yes… you must think of it as a process.  Don’t just hire anyone – put these agents to the test.

Here are just a few questions:

1)    How long have you been in real estate?  Don’t get a new agent for your first home…you need someone that can explain in simple terms what you are doing and how to make this easy to understand – a new agent is still trying to understand it themselves.
2)    Do you usually sell homes in our price range that we are looking in?  Buying a first time home and a luxury home are different – in what you look for and how you negotiate.  Will this agent help you save money or just do the deal?
3)      Do you usually help buyers or sellers in transactions?  This is important because depending on what side of the deal you are on – the agent will be doing different things.  If they are usually on the seller’s side – they will usually try and defend the sales price of the house and not ask for more discounts.  If they are usually on the buyer’s side, the agents are more likely to ask for closing costs and little things that might help a new homebuyer.

Don’t:
1)    Buy from an agent if you don’t like them.
2)    Buy from an agent if they don’t return your calls promptly
3)    Choose an agent just because they were on the sign and they don’t have time to show you other homes.
4)    Buy from an agent who just wants to sell you any home.. this is your biggest purchase.


A real estate professional should be kind and friendly and explain to you about the transaction.  There are many people that can help you… choose wisely and enjoy your new home.